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ZIMBABWE Under-19 women cricket team are in camp in preparation for the Under-19 Girls National Cricket Week to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from Saturday.

The developmental squad, which feeds into the national team, was the best team at last year's edition, which featured six clubs from South African provinces.

Zimbabwe won five matches and drew one out of the six games they played at the tournament.

But this year's cricket week is bigger and will feature 18 clubs from South African provinces -- Border, Boland, Easterns, Eastern Province, Free State, Gauteng, Griquas, KZN Coastal, KZN Inland, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northerns, North West, SWD, Western Province, Kei, Gauteng Invitation and Zimbabwe.

The squad -- comprising 13 members -- began training yesterday at Old Hararians and will play their first game on Saturday against Easterns at Wits University.

The team was selected following national trials, which were held in October.

Coach Sylvester Mutusva noted after conducting his first training session that the teenagers "have the talent but just need exposure".

"Training is going on well, they are talented they just need exposure and this is the right time to go and meet some other teams.

"We are working on all aspects of the game batting and bowling, and we have also been working on game situations and tactical awareness.

"The fitness level is fine as most of the players have been active although there is a difference between club cricket and national team cricket. The best team that performs on that day will win, but the players that I have are capable of winning.

"The youngest player Modester Mupachikwa is 13 years and was in last year's team when she was 12 and took 6 wickets for 21 runs in a 20/20 game against Easterns," said Mutusva.

ZC introduced the country's first inter-franchise women's age-group competitions in March from the Under-13 category to the senior levels.

Zimbabwe will play six games, two time cricket games against Easterns and Border before they play two T20 matches and two limited overs matches next week.

Captain Ruvarashe Chinyemba, Mupachikwa, Mary Anne Musonda and Josephine Nkomo who featured in the last edition will bring some form of experience into the team.

Squad: Ruvarashe Chinyemba (Mash Eagles), Mary Anne Musonda (Mid West Rhinos), Granger Tasmeen (Tuskers), Modester Mupachikwa (Mash Eagles), Audrey Mazvishaya (Mash Eagles), Charlene Musadaidzwa (Southern Rocks), Nomatter Mutasa (Mid West Rhinos), Nyasha Gwanzura (Southern Rocks), Noelle Feremeka (Tuskers), Esther Mbofana (Mash Eagles), Loraine Tshuma(Tuskers), Josephine Nkomo (Mid West Rhinos) and Alice Jazi (Mountaineers).